Judge: Sadler Fit to Stand Trial

A Romeoville man facing charges in the 2010 death of his wife is fit to stand trial, a Will County judge ruled.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak on Thursday said she had reviewed a mental fitness evaluation for defendant , 68, charged with aggravated domestic abuse and aggravated battery of a senior citizen in connection with the death of wife Caroline, 66, last summer.

John Sadler was arrested July 26, 2010, after admitting to striking his wife in the head with a hammer during an argument roughly 10 days earlier, police said.

Romeoville police made two welfare checks at the couple’s Benzie Circle home at the request of their daughter, who lives in Arizona. The woman said she had not heard from her mother in nearly two weeks. Initially, according to police, John Sadler claimed his wife was in Michigan and would be home later in the afternoon.

During a second visit to the home, police said, officers detected a foul odor coming from inside the house. After a cadaver dog indicated the presence of human remains, police said Sadler admitted that his wife was dead. Caroline Sadler's body was discovered just inside the front door of the home, located in the Grand Haven subdivison.

Domestic abuse and battery charges were filed against John Sadler, a former CPA, after pathologists determined that Caroline Sadler died of a heart attack.

Bertani-Tomczak granted attorney Ignatius Villasenor’s request to hold off on setting a trial date until Sadler’s son, who has agreed to accompany his father at trial and is a potential witness, can recover from serious medical issues.

Another status hearing in the case is set for Aug. 18.